New Mexico, Federal Officials Differ On Mental Health

New Mexico officials are disputing the federal government's contention that the number of people in the state receiving behavioral health services dropped 23 percent last year.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that it's not clear how the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services calculated the decrease but that federal officials visited New Mexico last September following a shake-up in the state's provider network.

The federal center cited the 23 percent figure in a Dec. 24 letter to state officials and called it a concern.

According to the state Human Services Department, New Mexico actually had more people getting services since different providers took over.

A federal report recommended more outreach and communication with behavioral health consumers.

Information from Albuquerque Journal.

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